The service entrance is the connection point between the utility company's power lines and your home's electrical system. It includes the weatherhead, service mast, meter base, and service entrance conductors (SEC cables). These components carry the full electrical load of your home and are exposed to weather, UV radiation, and physical stress every day. When they deteriorate or need to be upgraded for increased capacity, professional replacement is essential for safety and code compliance. Unity Power & Light provides complete service entrance upgrades for homeowners in Aiken, SC and the surrounding CSRA area.

What We Replace

A service entrance upgrade can include any or all of the following components, depending on the condition of your existing equipment and whether you are increasing your service capacity.

Weatherhead (Service Head)

The cap-like fitting at the top of the service mast where utility wires connect to your home's wiring. Weatherheads crack and deteriorate from UV exposure and weather, allowing water to enter the conduit. We replace deteriorated weatherheads with new, code-compliant fittings that provide reliable weather protection.

Service Mast (Riser)

The vertical conduit extending from the weatherhead to the meter base. Masts can lean, bend, or pull away from the house due to the weight and wind load of utility wires. We install new rigid masts that are properly secured to the home's structure and meet utility company height and clearance requirements.

Meter Base (Meter Socket)

The enclosure that holds the electric meter and connects utility power to your home's wiring. Corroded or damaged meter bases cause overheating, arcing, and fire risk. We install new meter bases sized for your service capacity with proper weatherproofing and secure bus bar connections.

Service Entrance Conductors

The large cables carrying electricity from the meter base to the main panel. When upgrading from 100-amp to 200-amp service, these conductors must be upsized. We also replace SEC cables with deteriorated, cracked, or damaged insulation that exposes live conductors and creates fire and shock hazards.

When You Need a Service Entrance Upgrade

Panel upgrade from 100 to 200 amps: The most common trigger. When upgrading your panel, the meter base, SEC cables, and often the mast and weatherhead all need to be sized for the new capacity.
Visible deterioration: Cracked weatherhead, leaning mast, corroded meter base, or damaged SEC cable insulation all indicate the need for replacement.
Utility company requirements: Dominion Energy and Aiken Electric Cooperative have specific standards. They may require upgrades before reconnecting service.
Insurance or code compliance: Insurers may flag deteriorated service entrance equipment. Building permits for renovations may require bringing the service entrance to current standards.
Burn marks or overheating signs: Scorch marks, melted plastic, or discoloration at any connection point indicate a serious problem requiring immediate attention.

Our Service Entrance Upgrade Process

1

Assessment

We evaluate your existing service entrance equipment, determine the scope of work needed, and identify the correct specifications based on your service size and utility company requirements. If you are also upgrading your panel, we assess both together for a comprehensive scope of work.

2

Flat-Rate Quote

You receive a written flat-rate quote that covers all materials, labor, permits, and utility coordination. If the service entrance upgrade is combined with a panel upgrade, both are included in a single comprehensive quote.

3

Permitting

We pull the required electrical permit with Aiken County. The permit application specifies the full scope of the service entrance work to ensure proper inspection coverage.

4

Utility Coordination

We coordinate directly with Dominion Energy or your local utility to schedule the temporary disconnect. The utility must pull the meter before we can safely work on the service entrance equipment. We handle all communication and scheduling.

5

Installation

On installation day, the utility pulls the meter. We remove old equipment and install new components: weatherhead, mast, meter base, and SEC cables as needed. Everything is properly secured, weatherproofed, and connected. If combined with a panel upgrade, both are completed the same day.

6

Inspection and Reconnection

The county electrical inspector examines the completed work. Once inspection passes, the utility installs a new meter and reconnects service. You receive all permits, inspection records, and documentation.

Timeline and What to Expect

The total timeline from initial assessment to completed upgrade and utility reconnection is typically one to three weeks. The actual hands-on installation work is completed in one day for most service entrance upgrades. The additional time is for permit processing and utility scheduling.

Your power will be off during the installation, typically for six to ten hours depending on the scope of work. We schedule the work to minimize the outage duration and restore power before we leave. If the service entrance upgrade is combined with a panel upgrade, both are completed during the same outage.

For homes with underground service rather than overhead, the process is similar but does not involve a weatherhead or mast. The meter base and conductors are still addressed as needed.

Service Entrance Upgrade in Aiken, SC